Screen type separator



Dec. 24, 1957 w. GnGLASCOFF SCREEN TYPE SEPARATOR Filed Sept. 30. 1953INVENTOR.

NTT ORR 5Y5 artist Patented Dec. 24 1957 SCREEN TYPE SEPARATOR Walter G.Glaseoif, Waupun, Wis., assignor to Berlin Chapman Company, Berlin, Win,a corporation of Wisconsin Application September 30, 1953, Serial No.383,177

2 Claims. (Cl. 209-315) The present invention relates generally toimprovements in the art of sorting and grading materials of diversesizes, and relates more particularly to improvements in separatingapparatus of the screen type.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an improvedscreen type separator especially adapted for sorting and gradingvegetables such as peas or the like which is extremely compact anddurable in construction and highly efficient and economical in use.

Although it has heretofore been proposed to utilize devices embodying aspaced series of superimposed vibratory screens of di ferently sizedmeshes for separating diverse materials, none of these prior assemblageshas proven completely satisfactory in sorting and grading relativelyperishable and soft-bodied products such as peas and corn which aresubject to considerable crushing and mashing and consequent loss ofproduct. Most of these prior separators are undesirably bulky,complicated and expensive, and therefore require considerable floorspace as Well as expert and costly maintenance. Furthermore, many ofthese prior devices handle the mass product in an exceedingly roughmanner thereby causing excessive damage and loss of product by bruisingand mashing.

It is therefore a more specific object of my present invention toprovide an improved apparatus for sorting and grading perishableproducts which obviates the disadvantages and objections heretoforeattendant similar devices.

Another specific object of this invention is to provide an improved peagrader which requires a minimum amount of floor space and which isadapted to sort and grade a maximum quantity of peas in a given periodof time.

Another specific object of the invention is to provide an improved peagrading machine which is adapted to most effectively and gently sort theproduct as to different sizes with a minimum resultant mechanical damageto the product.

Still another specific object of my present invention is to provide animproved unitary and relatively portable screen type separator whichcomprises exceedingly few parts which are all readily accessible forperiodic cleaning, replacement or repair.

A further specific object of the present invention is to provide animproved pea grader embodying reciprocating screens which may be readilyinterchanged as to mesh size so as to provide utmost flexibility in itsadaptations.

An additional specific object of the present invention is to provide animproved separating device comprising, a main frame, a series ofsuperimposed inclined screens of different mesh sizes suspended from theframe for oscillatory movement in the direction of inclination, meansfor supplying batches of material to be separated as to size to theupper end of the top screen, means for reciprocating the screens tocause oscillation thereof in their direction of inclination, a resilientwiper blade for each of the screens coacting directly with the bottomsurface thereof throughout the direction of inclination,

and means for reciprocating the wiper blades in a direction transverseto the direction of movement of the screens.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentfrom the following detailed description.

A clear conception of the several features constituting "the presentimprovement and of the mode of constructing and of utilizing a typicalpea grader embodying the invention may be had by referring to thedrawing accompanying and forming a part of this specification, whereinlike reference characters designate the same or similar parts in theseveral views.

Fig. 1 is a side view of one of my improved separators with portions ofthe screen and wiper frames being broken away to reveal normallyconcealed structure;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the device with portions of the screen framesagain being broken away for the sake of clarity; and

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic fragmentary perspective View of one of thescreens and its associated wiper mechanism.

While the invention has been shown and described herein as beingespecially embodied in a pea sorting and grading device having a certainnumber or superimposed grading screens disposed at a particular angle,it is not desired or intended to thereby unnecessarily restrict thescope or utility of the improvement; and it is also contemplated thatcertain specific descriptive terms used herein shall be given thebroadest possible interpretation consistent with the disclosure.

Referring to the drawing, the typical improved separating unit showntherein comprises, in general, a substantially open main frame 5 formedof angle irons or the like; a series of superimposed inclined andnormally parallel flat screens 6 of different mesh sizes suspended atopposite ends from the frame 5 in vertically spaced relationship foroscillatory movement in the direction of inclination as by means ofrocker arms 7, 8 carried by horizontal rocker shafts 9, 10 respectivelymounted at different elevations at the ends of the frame 5; means suchas a hopper 11 for supplying batches of peas or other material to beseparated as to size to the upper or elevated end of the top screen;common means such as a vertical drive shaft 12 journalled on one end ofthe frame 5 and having a spaced series of eccentrics 13 each connectedto the elevated end of one of the screens 6 by a connecting rod or link14 for simultaneously reciprocating all of the screens to thereby causeoscillation thereof in their direction of inclination, the shaft 12being suitably driven by means of a motor 15 or the like also mounted onthe frame 5; one or more resilient Wiper blades 16 for each of thescreens 6 coacting directly with the bottom surface thereof, therespective sets of wiper blades 16 being longitudinally inclinedsimilarly to the respective screens 6 so as to contact the samethroughout the direction of inclination thereof and being carried bysuitable frames 17 slidably supported for reciprocating motion on rods18, 19 extending transversely across the main frame 5; and common meanssuch as a vertically extending eccentric or cam shaft 2% mounted forrotation on a side of the frame 5 and connected with the respectivewiper frames 17 by a series of arms 21 for simultaneously reciprocatingall of the wiper blades 16 in a direction transverse or perpendicular tothe direction of movement of the screens 6, the cam shaft 20 being alsodriven by suitable means such as a motor 22 mounted on the frame 5 orthrough a reduction gear or drive arrangement by the motor 15.

As indicated, the screens 6 should be of variable sized mesh with thescreen having the largest mesh openings gar/ 42 being at the top andeach successive lower screen being of progressively smaller size mesh,and each of these screens may be suitably supported and retained in flatcondition within a rectangular frame 23 formed of angle irons or thelike. For receiving the graded material which gravitates down thesuccessive inclined screens 6 during oscillation thereof, a suitablespout or trough, not shown, may be positioned immediately under thelower end of each screen; and if desired, a pan or hopper 24 may beprovided immediately below the lowermost screen for receiving the finematerial, water or the like which gravitates therethrough. The driveshaft 12 may be conveniently journalled at opposite ends in suitablebearings carried by brackets 25, 26 which are rigidly secured to theframe at the end adjacent to the elevated portions of the screens, andthe motor for driving the shaft 12 through a suitable belt and sprocketdrive 27 may be most conveniently rigidly mounted by means of a bracket28 to the frame adjacent to the lower end of the shaft 12 to therebyprovide a unitary assemblage. Likewise, the shaft 20 may beeccentrically mounted on upper and lower stub shafts 29, 30 respectivelywhich are journalled in bearing brackets 31, 32 respectively forrotation by the motor 22 which may be rigidly mounted on a lower brace33 of the frame 5 and coupled to the shaft 30 in any suitable knownmanner for low speed operation. The wiper blades 16 may be formed of anysuitable resilient material such as rubber with each carrier or framemember 17 being formed with a plurality of transversely spaced blades soas to reduce the stroke necessary to reciprocate the blades transverselyacross the entire area of the screen, and each blade carrier 17 ispreferably so positioned with respect to the adjacent upper screen 6 asto place the respective set of blades 16 under resilient pressureagainst the bottom surface of the screen to assure an effective wipingaction at all times.

In operation, a batch of peas or other material to be separatedaccording to size is supplied to the elevated end of the upper screenthrough the hopper 11. As the screens 6 are simultaneously oscillated onthe rockers 7, 8 through their eccentric connections with the motordriven shaft 12, the peas are caused to spread out in a relatively thinsheet over the surface of the upper screen and to gravitate toward thelower end of the inclined screen with the smaller sized peas fallingthrough the relatively large screen openings onto the next succeedinglower screen of smaller mesh size where the separating or gradingprocess is continued. As the peas are thus graded according to size byeach successive screen 6 of smaller mesh size, the graded peas arecaught in separate pans or troughs, not shown, which may be placedimmediately below and adjacent to the lower end of each inclined screen;and the fines as well as any water or minute dirt particles gravitatethrough the lowermost screen 6 into the pan 24. Since some of the peaswhich are not quite small enough to gravitate therethrough may becomepartially lodged or seated within the mesh openings of the successivescreens despite the oscillatory motion thereof, the wiper blades 16 areprovided to dislodge the peas from the openings and thereby preventclogging of the screens; and these wiper blades carried by thereciprocating frames 17 bear against the lower surface of the respectivescreens under slight pressure so as to gently push the peas upwardly outof the screen openings as the blades are reciprocated transverselyacross the screens perpendicularly to their movement by means of themotor driven cam shaft 20.

From the foregoing detailed description, it is believed apparent thatthe improved separating or grading apparatus provides a unitarystructure which is highly efficient and which may be produced andoperated at low cost to the consumer. The screens 6 may, of course, beinterchanged if desired with screens of smaller or larger mesh openings,and any number of screens may be utilized dependent upon the number ofgrades or sizes into which it is desired to separate the batch. The mainframe 5 as well as the screen frames 23 may be formed of suitable angleirons, and since it is necessary to provide an open carrier or framemember for the wiper blades 16 to permit the graded material to fallunto the next successive lower screen, the wiper blade frame 17 may beconveniently formed of a rectangular open member provided with a seriesof spaced cross pieces 34 secured to the sides of the rectangular frameand receiving and supporting the wiper blades. The improved units haveproven highly successful in actual use and have been found to increasethe capacity of canning factories by reason of their efficiency andspeed of operation in grading peas and corn. In addition, the unitaryconstruction of the unit provides for utmost portability and requires aminimum amount of fioor area, and all of the parts are readilyaccessible for inspection, cleaning or repair. The suspension means forthe successive screens provides for oscillation of these screens in amost simple manner, and such oscillatory motion most effectivelyadvances the product along the inclined path provided by the screenswhile permitting and aiding gravitation of the product through thescreen openings; and the wiper blades of resilient material which wipeacross the bottom of each screen perpendicular to the oscillatory motionthereof most effectively aid in keeping the screen mesh open withoutcrushing or otherwise damaging the product. As hereinabove indicated, asingle common motor may be used for driving both the shaft 12 and thecamshaft 20 if desired, but in such event, a suitable reduction in thedrive should be provided for the cam shaft 20.

It should be understood that it is not desired or intended to limit thisinvention to the exact details of construction herein shown anddescribed, since various modifications within the scope of the appendedclaims may occur to persons skilled in the art to which this inventionpertains.

I claim:

1. In a screen type separator for bulk granular material, a main frame,a series of vertically spaced superimposed and longitudinally inclinedparallel screen decks of different mesh normally confined within saidframe, parallel suspension links connecting the opposite upper and lowerends of each deck with said frame for arcuate oscillatory movement ofthe decks in the direction of their inclination, a primary series ofeccentrics journalled on said frame at one end of said deck series forrotation about an upright axis, a driving connection between each ofsaid eccentrics and the adjacent deck, an open frame member movablymounted between adjacent screen decks, a series of laterally spacedparallel wiper blades carried by each of said members and coacting withthe bottom of the adjacent screen deck throughout its entire length, asecondary set of eccentrics journalled on said frame laterally of saiddecks for rotation about an upright axis, a driving connection betweeneach of said secondary eccentrics and the adjacent blade carryingmember, means for rotating said primary eccentrics to reciprocate thedecks longitudinally of said wiper blades, and means for rotating saidsecondary eccentrics to cause said blades to travel laterally back andforth beneath the adjacent decks distances equal to the spacing of theblades from each other.

2. In a screen type separator for bulk granular material, a main frame,a series of vertically spaced superimposed .and longitudinally inclinedparallel screen decks of different mesh normally confined within saidframe, parallel suspension links connecting the opposite upper and lowerends of each deck with said frame for arcuate oscillatory movement ofthe decks in the direction of their inclination, a primary series ofeccentrics journalled on said frame at one end of said deck series forrotation about an upright axis, a driving connection between each ofsaid eccentrics and the adjacent deck, fixed rods spanning said framebetween and transversely of said decks,

an open frame member movably mounted upon each set of said fixed rods, aseries of laterally spaced parallel Wiper blades carried by each of saidmembers and coacting with the bottom of the adjacent screen deckthroughout its entire length, a secondary set of eccentrics journalledon said frame laterally of said decks for rotation about an uprightaxis, a driving connection between each of said secondary eccentrics andthe adjacent blade carrying member, means for rotating said primaryeccentrics to simultaneously reciprocate the decks longitudinally ofsaid wiper blades, and means for rotating said secondary eccentrics tocause said blades to simultaneously travel back and forth laterallybeneath the adjacent decks distances equal to the spacing of the bladesfrom each other.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS HunterFeb. 4, 1890 Whitmore Aug. 28, 1894 Scott Mar. 18, 1902 Kime Dec. 29,1914 Smith Apr. 7, 1925 Smith Feb. 27, 1940 Wigton Dec. 26, 1950 PaulJuly 13, 1954

